Connecting-clip.



G. B. DUSINBERRB.-

UONNEGTING CLIP. APBLIOATION FILED my 29, 1909.

Patented July 5, 1910.

v @d s az'zazn UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

GEORGE BROWN DUSINBRRE, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ooNNEcTING-CLIP.

' 1 Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, i910.

Application filed May 29, 1909. Serial No. 499,180. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. DUsIN- BERRE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Connecting-Clips, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in connecting clips, and is .particularly adapted for use as a testing clip for electric wires or for making other temporary electrical connections, although the device is not neces. sarily limited to this purpose.

The object of my invention has been to .Simplify the clip by making it of relatively few parts, so constructed asto be self retaining, while avoiding the use vof pivot pins and the usual pivotal joint. y

In. my improved construction, the cli is Vformed of two'co-acting members affor ingjaws normally held in engagement by means of a spring, which spring isitself retained in place by means of down-turned lips.

Further features of my-improvement will be readily gathered by making reference to the accompanying sheetl of drawings, where- 1n:-- 1.

Figures I, II and III illustrate in perspective three different types of clip embodying my: improvements. Fig. IV is a side View lof the device -of Fig. I. Fig. V is a longitudinal section of t-he device of Fig. III., Figs. VI and VII illustrate the blanks for forming the vdevice of Fig. II. Figs. VIII and IX illustrate the blanks for forming the device of Fig. III; and Fig. X f Villustrates the spring and an alternative form of retaining lug a". -1

- Throughout' the several figures `of the drawings, I have employed the same character of reference to indicate similar arts, in

order that no confusion may result 1n referring thereto.

Each of the clips Vit will be seen, comprises an u per and a ower member, pivotally unite rearwardly by means of integral lugs or ears. The jaw members are crossed and are nonnallyengagedby the s r'in retained within the body portion of the evice, by means of down-turned lips or lflanges. The electric conductor or other connection is rearwardly secured 'to onel of the clip mem.

bers by means of an extension of the 'member. Thus, in Fig. I, the upper member av rearwardly carries the electrical tip or sleeve their front e a', and is shaped forwardly to provide the serrated lower jaw a. The lower member b is rearwardly provided with terminal lugs b', which -fit closely between the sleeve a and'body portion of the member a, and are bent over to afford a 'ivotal connect-ion between the upper and ower members.' The serrated upper jaw is carried by the lower member, and the spring c is held in place by means of the overturned flanges a2 b2, respectively provided at opposltesides of the members a j Since the Shanks a3 b3 of the jaws cross, it is seen that said jaws are normally held in close engagement or are caused firmly to grasp the electric wires or other part, upon which they may be adjusted, by means of the U-shaped expansion sprmg c.

The ldevice of Fig. .II closely resembles that of Fig. I, except that a single lug b isl rearwardly extended through a slot a3 in the upper member, but the parts are retained in alinement by the spring acting upon the positively positioned flanges a2 b2, and by' crossed Shanks a4 b4 of the jaws.` In the device of Fig.l III, duplicated pivotal 'terminals b. are retained for the lpivotal connection, but the shank bt of the lower members extends through a slot a5 formed between Athe duplicated Shanks or yextensions a? for the lower -jaw a.

Upon referring to the latter ligures of the drawings, the simplicity of the blanks and the manner in which they fit together will be vvery readil understood.

Since the spring is substantia ly the width ofthe inclosingbody ortions, and theretaining flanges there or are respectively bent inwardly upon the side of the blank opposite that upon which are formed the Shanks or extensions mounting. the jaws, -it will be seen thatthese parts coperate with the spring to maintain the clip members in alinemelit and prevent their accidental separation. p A

The jawsv ref erably are lserrated along A(ges and two sides, sothat the electrical con uctOIl may be. very' conveniently grasped thereby' in any desired position.' Thus, the conductor may be grasped at any intermediate point bythe side serrations, or by the end serrationsand either one I of the side serrations, or the extremity of a conductor may be grasped inclosely 4restricteddpositions, such as occur in switchboards the like, byeither one of the side. serrations alone. Inasmuch as the parts are siml ple, cheaply made, and avoid the ordinary bers comprising rearwardly positioned in-A terlocking pivotal parts, forwardly disposed and crossed jaws, and an interiorlypositioned spring reesiliently maintaining said jaws in engagement, substantially as set 2. In a device o f the class described, the combination with two clamping members comprisingrearwardly positioned interlocking pivotal or articulating parts and forwardly disposed and crossed jaw members, of an. interiorly positioned spring normally maintaining the jaws in engagement, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device of the class described, the

-combination with two sheet metal clamping members rearwardlyI shaped to form co-acting articulating or pivotal parts and forwardly constructed to. afford crossedjaw members, ofl a U-shaped spring interiorly positionedbetween the clamping members, and retaining parts disposed upon opposite .sides of said members for retaining the spring in placejand Securing the alinement of the members, substantially as set forth.

4. In a .device of the class described, the.

combination with two sheet metal clamping members, of an interiorly positioned actuating spring; said members being forwardly shaped to afford gripping jaws serrated upon three sides and integral rearwardlypositioned yinterlocking pivotal-parts adapted to maintain said serrated jaws in alinement, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination with two sheet metal clamping members rearwardly shaped respectively to form integral overturned locking lugsI and pivotal or articulating connections therefor, and forwardly shaped to afford gripping jaws, of a spring adapted normally to retain said jaws in` engagement,substantially as set forth.

6. In a device ofthe class described, the combination with two sheet metal clamping members, rearwardly articulated by means of integral overturned lugs and forwardly shapedrto afford crossed gripping jaws, of an interiorly positioned spring substantially the width of said members, and oppositely disposed lateral retaining .part-s respectively l provided upon said members for securing the spring in place, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electrical connecting clip, the combination with two sheet metal clamping members rearwardly shaped to afford. laterally positioned articulating lugs and a connecting sleeve.; forwardly'shaped lto afford crossed grippingjaws and'respectively provided with overturned and oppositely disposed retaining parts, of an interiorly positioned U-shaped 'spring substantially the width of the clamping members adapted normally to maintain said jaws in engagement, substantially as set forth. y

Signed at Cleveland, Ohio, this 27th day of May, 1909. i

GEORGE'BROWN DUSINBERRE.

Witnesses Ro'r. M. MORGAN,

ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE. 

